Earth moving conveyor system

ABSTRACT

A system for the removal of material from a roadbed includes a movable vehicle equipped with a cutting plate having a cutting edge for scraping material from the roadbed to thereby form debris material. A first conveyor system for conveying the debris material away from the cutting edge is placed above the cutting plate and delivers the debris material to a second conveyor system which deposits the debris material laterally from a distal end of the second conveyor to a location remote from the movable vehicle.

PRIORITY CLAIM

Priority is claimed of and to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/817,210, filed Apr. 29, 2013, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to vehicles for use in moving and/or removing earthen materials from a surface.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It has been recognized that it would be advantageous to develop an adjustable conveyor system capable of transporting the road debris from the cutting edge of the scraper and place the debris in a direction perpendicular from the path of the cutting edge.

The invention provides a system for the removal of material from a roadbed, the system having a movable vehicle with a cutting plate where the cutting plate has a cutting edge for scraping material from a roadbed where a first conveyor system transports the debris material away from the cutting edge and delivers the debris to a second conveyor system which then deposits the debris material laterally from a distal end of the second conveyor to a location remote from the movable vehicle.

In accordance with a more detailed aspect of the present invention, the system includes multiple conveyors, a first conveyor which removes debris directly from the cutting plate and a second, perpendicular from the first, which receives debris from the first conveyor and transports the debris laterally away from the path of the vehicle, the second conveyor having an ability to adjust the lateral distance and direction of its discharge point. The second conveyor having a concave shape to better contain the debris material in a horizontal plane.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Additional features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the detailed description which follows, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which together illustrate, by way of example, features of the invention; and, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of an earthmover having a conveyor system incorporated into a vehicle in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the earthmover of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a conveyor system and cutting plate in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a top schematic view of the conveyor system of FIG. 3, with a cutout of the conveyor belt showing an adjustment mechanism utilizing a rack and pinion to adjust the second conveyor; and

FIG. 5 is a top view of the conveyor system of FIG. 1 with a cutout of the conveyor belt showing an adjustment mechanism utilizing a hydraulic system to adjust the second conveyor.

Reference will now be made to the exemplary embodiments illustrated, and specific language will be used herein to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS Definitions

As used herein, the singular forms “a” and “the” can include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to “a conveyor” can include one or more of such conveyors.

As used herein, the terms “attached,” “coupled,” fixed,” etc., can be used to describe a condition in which two or more components are coupled to one another in such a manner that they function as intended: that is, the force required to uncouple the components is sufficiently large such that the components will remain attached to one another during the service for which they were designed. In some embodiments of the invention, various components can be “permanently” coupled to one another: in such a case, the components are coupled to one another such that some deformation of one or both of the components, or the fasteners used to couple the components, will occur if the components are uncoupled from one another. One example of such a coupling can occur when two or more components are welded, bonded or otherwise adhered to one another.

In other aspects, various components can be “removably” coupled to one another such that they can be separated without causing permanent deformation of the components, or the fasteners used to couple the components. One example of such a coupling can occur when two or more components are bolted to one another (in which case, removal of nuts coupled to bolts can result in uncoupling of the components without damaging the nuts or the bolts), or when a pin is used to secure one or more components in position relative to each other, or when two or more components are slidably insertable one within another to provide a telescoping relationship.

Directional terms, such as “vertical,” “horizontal,” “upper,” “lower,” etc., are used herein to describe relative positions of various components. It is to be understood that such usage is an effort to most clearly describe, and, where applicable, claim, the features of the invention and is not be to limiting unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Such directional terms are used in a manner that will be readily understood by one of ordinary skill in the art having possession of this disclosure.

As used herein, the term “substantially” refers to the complete or nearly complete extent or degree of an action, characteristic, property, state, structure, item, or result. As an arbitrary example, an object that is “substantially” enclosed would mean that the object is either completely enclosed or nearly completely enclosed. The exact allowable degree of deviation from absolute completeness may in some cases depend on the specific context. However, generally speaking the nearness of completion will be so as to have the same overall result as if absolute and total completion were obtained. The use of “substantially” is equally applicable when used in a negative connotation to refer to the complete or near complete lack of an action, characteristic, property, state, structure, item, or result. As another arbitrary example, a composition that is “substantially free of” an ingredient or element may still actually contain such item as long as there is no measurable effect thereof.

As used herein, the term “about” is used to provide flexibility to a numerical range endpoint by providing that a given value may be “a little above” or “a little below” the endpoint.

As used herein, a plurality of items, structural elements, compositional elements, and/or materials may be presented in a common list for convenience. However, these lists should be construed as though each member of the list is individually identified as a separate and unique member. Thus, no individual member of such list should be construed as a de facto equivalent of any other member of the same list solely based on their presentation in a common group without indications to the contrary.

Numerical data may be expressed or presented herein in a range format. It is to be understood that such a range format is used merely for convenience and brevity and thus should be interpreted flexibly to include not only the numerical values explicitly recited as the limits of the range, but also to include all the individual numerical values or sub-ranges encompassed within that range as if each numerical value and sub-range is explicitly recited. As an illustration, a numerical range of “about 1 to about 5” should be interpreted to include not only the explicitly recited values of about 1 to about 5, but also include individual values and sub-ranges within the indicated range. Thus, included in this numerical range are individual values such as 2, 3, and 4 and sub-ranges such as from 1-3, from 2-4, and from 3-5, etc., as well as 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, individually.

This same principle applies to ranges reciting only one numerical value as a minimum or a maximum. Furthermore, such an interpretation should apply regardless of the breadth of the range or the characteristics being described.

Invention

FIGS. 1 and 2 present images of an exemplary vehicle 12 equipped with conveyors (discussed in more detail below) for use in accordance with aspects of the invention. The vehicle can be used in a variety of applications involving earthen beds or similar terrain. In many such applications that process surface materials (soil, gravel, soil and gravel combinations, etc.), it is important to compact or structurally compress engineered fills. For example, industry standards require two percentage points above optimum moisture content in a well homogenized condition. Unlike that of conventional loaders and dozers, the present technology provides a far superior mixing action for processing material.

In addition, the present technology includes the ability to discharge this material away from the vehicle. This is advantageous for a number of reasons. For example, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, material can being discharged away from the vehicle into HPT lined channels 14. As the HPT lining material can be easily damaged by traffic, discharging processed debris away from areas of high traffic can provide a more effective and efficient overall system. Use of the present technology achieves results far in excess of other methods in both cost and efficiency. The present technology is also advantageously suited for backfilling trenches and other limited width fill, or traffic sensitive areas.

FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 illustrate more specific examples of features of the technology. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the system can include a cutting plate 300 for engaging a quantity of earth material, dirt, gravel, other debris, or combinations thereof, which is removed from a surface (shown generally at 700), in order to provide a uniform planar surface. This planar surface will be referred to herein as a roadbed or road surface, but it should be recognized that the invention can be implemented to create a uniform planar surface for virtually any application, for example providing a level area to pour a foundation for a large building. The discussion of using the invention for a road surface is not to be limiting in scope regarding the application of the invention to perform a desired task.

The cutting plate 300 can include a cutting edge 310 which engages the surface and scrapes or cuts away an amount of material resulting in a quantity of debris material (not shown in this view), which is deposited onto the top surface 320 of the cutting plate 300. Conventional scraper systems simply form this cutting plate into a wedge shape, which functions similar to plow to push the debris material to the side edges of the cutting plate (and thus the vehicle) as the vehicle moves in a forward direction, e.g., to the right in FIG. 3. This prior art method of conveying the material away by pushing causes problems in that material cut away at the point of the wedge or at a front edge may interfere with the cutting at a point further along the surface. In other words, the debris removed by the cutting plate can later interfere with proper or most efficient operation of the cutting plate. This can also require that the vehicle have significant weight and traction to be able to push the debris to the side.

In contrast, the present apparatus of FIG. 3 employs a first conveyor system 100 for transporting the debris away from the top surface of the cutting plate. The conveyor system has an endless track/belt 110 that can include contours or paddles 120 for effecting the transportation of the debris away from the cutting edge. The belt 110 rotates on tensioning wheels 130 that are driven in order to rotate the belt 110. The first conveyor 100 pushes the debris along the top surface 320 of the cutting plate and into a feeder plate 330. The feeder plate 330 helps to guide the debris vertically up and away from the cutting edge 310 and the top surface of the cutting plate 320. The contours or paddles 120 may be adjusted to contact the top surface of the cutting plate 320 and the feeder plate 330, or a small gap may instead be utilized.

The ability to adjust the paddles 120 into contact with the feeder plate 330 and the top surface of the cutting plate 320 becomes particularly advantageous when mud, sand or other small particle debris is being removed from the roadbed surface, as the mud or sand can be scraped up the feeder plate 330 and off the top surface of the cutting plate 320. The drive motor (shown schematically by example behind 130) for the first conveyor system 100 is preferably reversible to allow the operator to selectively discharge material toward the cutting edge 310 upon the event that something jambs the first conveyor system.

The debris can be discharged from the channel formed between the conveyor 100 and the feeder plate 330 to a second conveyor system 200, which is positioned orthogonally to the first conveyor system 110 in this embodiment. The feeder plate 330 can alternately include side rails 410 which can aid in maintaining the debris on the feeder plate as the debris moves up the feeder plate. The second conveyor system can include a belt/endless track 210 for conveying the debris laterally to a side of the vehicle.

The second conveyor system belt 210 can be supported by drive wheels 230 and a frame 256. The top side of the belt 210 can be formed into concave shape to better contain the debris while conveying the debris to the remote location. The concave shape may be achieved by having concave drive wheels 230 instead of right-angled cylinders. The frame supporting the drive wheels can also be provided with an adjustment assembly 240 which can adjust the conveyor laterally with respect to the vehicle. When the conveyor is discussed herein as being laterally adjustable relative to the vehicle, it is understood that the point of discharge of material from the conveyor can be adjusted laterally away from and nearer to the vehicle. In other words, the point of discharge (e.g., the extreme end of the conveyor 210) can be adjusted in either direction 720 or 730, shown in FIG. 5. In this figure, 710 represents the forward direction of movement.

As shown schematically for exemplary purposes in FIG. 3, a rack 256 and pinion 252 assembly can be provided to aid in adjusting the conveyor laterally with respect to the vehicle. The motor 250 may drive the pinion 252 to engage the gears of the rack 256 and thus provide lateral motion of the support frame of the second conveyor. Many different types of adjustment may be used, for example a rack and pinion as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, or a hydraulic ram as shown in FIG. 5. Other systems appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art having possession of this disclosure may be employed and still remain within the scope of the invention. For example a worm gear, scissor lift or other hydraulic, pneumatic, or mechanical system may be used to provide the lateral adjustment of the second conveyor.

FIG. 4 shows a top view of the conveyor system of FIG. 3, with a portion of the track removed for clarity, to show the second conveyor system 200 with the belt 210 and drive/tension wheels 230, wherein the system is supported by a frame 254, and rack 256. The frame is thus adjustable by driving the pinion 252 engaged with gears on the rack 256 to laterally adjust the position of the second conveyor assembly 200. Gears may be provided on frame member 254 as well as on rack 256 with an additional drive shaft extension 258 extending through the center of the conveyor assembly 200 to provide more uniform distribution of the extension force exerted by the motor 250 on the conveyor assembly 200. Additionally, the drive mechanism (not shown) driving the drive/tension wheels 230 of the second conveyor assembly 200 is preferably reversible in order to allow selection of which side of the vehicle the debris is discharged to.

FIG. 5 shows a top view of the conveyor system employing an alternate method of adjusting the lateral location of the second conveyor assembly 200. This alternate method employs a hydraulic ram system 260 supported by the frame of the vehicle wherein the hydraulic ram system 260 has hydraulically actuated pistons 262 which apply force to push plates 264 which are affixed to the frame 256 supporting the second conveyor assembly 200. By actuating the pistons, the frame 256, and thereby the discharge location of the second conveyor 200, can be adjusted laterally to a desired location.

While the forgoing examples are illustrative of the principles of the present invention in one or more particular applications, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that numerous modifications in form, usage and details of implementation can be made without the exercise of inventive faculty, and without departing from the principles and concepts of the invention. Accordingly, it is not intended that the invention be limited, except as by the claims set forth below. 

1. A system for the removal of material from a roadbed, the system comprising: a movable vehicle; a cutting plate having a cutting edge for scraping material from the roadbed to thereby form debris material; a first conveyor system for conveying the debris material away from the cutting edge; and a second conveyor system capable of receiving the debris material from the first conveyor system and operable to deposit the debris material laterally from a distal end of the second conveyor to a location remote from the movable vehicle.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the cutting plate further comprises a top surface capable of transporting the debris material from the cutting edge to the first conveyor system.
 3. The system of claim 1, further comprising: a sloped feeder plate located behind the cutting edge creating a passageway between the feeder plate and the first conveyor system in order to direct the debris material more effectively to the second conveyor system.
 4. The system of claim 1, wherein the second conveyor system is capable of operating in a reverse direction, and wherein the second conveyor system is capable of being adjusted laterally in order to select which lateral direction to discharge the debris material from the movable vehicle.
 5. The system of claim 4, wherein the distal end of the second conveyor system can extend at least eight feet from the vehicle.
 6. The system of claim 1, wherein the second conveyor system is oriented orthogonally to the first conveyor system.
 7. The system of claim 1, wherein the cutting edge of the cutting plate extends forwardly of the first conveyor assembly, and wherein substantially all of the first conveyor system is located above the cutting plate.
 8. The system of claim 7, wherein the first conveyor assembly scrapes debris material from the top surface of the cutting plate.
 9. A roadbed debris removal assembly comprising: a cutting plate having a cutting edge for removing a quantity of debris material from a roadbed a first conveyor system having a first distal end located proximately above the cutting edge, the first conveyor system being configured to transport the debris material away from the cutting edge and being arranged so as to have a predetermined slope to a second distal end; a feeder plate having a sloped surface being parallel to the predetermined slope of the first conveyor system so as to create a debris material removal channel between the feeder plate and the first conveyor system in order to direct the debris material away from the cutting edge; and a second conveyor system capable of receiving the earth material debris from the first conveyor system and being capable of transporting the debris material laterally away from a location where the cutting edge removes the debris material.
 10. The assembly of claim 9, wherein the cutting plate further comprises an upper surface capable of conveying debris material removed from the roadbed by the cutting edge.
 11. The assembly of claim 10, wherein the first conveyor assembly further comprises: raised contours operable to contact the top surface of the cutting plate and the sloped surface of the feeder plate in order to scrape debris from the top surface of the cutting plate and the sloped surface of the feeder plate.
 12. The assembly of claim 9, further comprising: wherein the second conveyor assembly is capable of operating in a two directions.
 13. The assembly of claim 12, further comprising: the first and second conveyors being orthogonal to one another; and an adjustment assembly configured to laterally adjust the second conveyor system relative to the cutting edge in order to select which lateral direction to discharge the debris material in relation to the cutting edge.
 14. The assembly of claim 13, wherein the second conveyor system has a distal end discharging debris material, and wherein the lateral adjustment of the second conveyor can displace the distal end at least 8 feet.
 15. A method of providing a uniform roadbed surface comprising: engaging an area of earth with an elongated cutting plate having a cutting edge; removing a quantity of debris material using the cutting edge; directing the debris material to a first location remote from the cutting edge using a first conveyor assembly and a feeder plate; receiving the debris material at the first location onto a second conveyor assembly; and operating the second conveyor assembly to transport the debris material to a second location further remote from the cutting edge.
 16. The method of claim 15, wherein the elongated cutting plate has a top surface capable of holding debris material, and after removing the quantity of debris material using the cutting edge, the debris material is deposited onto the top surface of the cutting plate.
 17. The method of claim 16, further comprising: scraping debris material from the top surface of the cutting plate using the first conveyor assembly.
 18. The method of claim 15, further comprising: positioning the second conveyor assembly orthogonally to the first conveyor system.
 19. The method of claim 18, further comprising: adjusting the second conveyor in a lateral direction to adjust the distance from the cutting edge that the debris material is discharged from the conveyor.
 20. The method of claim 19, further comprising: operating the second conveyor in an opposite direction; adjusting the second conveyor to extend in an opposite lateral direction; and discharging debris material from the second conveyor in an opposite lateral direction. 